Observation Point is a collection of findings from the web and the world, inspected, selected and presented for your viewing pleasure, by Gilda Davidian and Stefani Greenwood. Check back frequently for updates.

A fun night was spent over on the other side of town with a group of interesting people (including our friends Ava and Angie) at a cool shop called, Shelter Half for a workshop on how to make a Kokedama.

Kokedama is a japanese technique that creates a hanging moss bonsai-ish ball. The possibilities are endless – ferns, herbs, succulents to name a few can be hanging around your home in like a half hour! Dudes! The name Kokedama makes me instantly think of the cutest little animation. Kokedama likes feeling a warm breeze and thinking about dinosaurs. Kokedama likes eating dark chocolate and reading novellas. According to the interwebs it’s said the idea originated from Nearai, which was a popular bonsai style during the Edo era in Japan, and is a bonsai grown first in a pot and taken out of the pot and set on a stand to enjoy without a pot. In the Nearai style, the bonsai was grown so fully and tightly in the pot that the root and soil would maintain its shape when taken out of the pot. You can see some beautiful examples of Nearai style here – LINK

Lili was our awesome instructor – She provided the materials and instructions for all of us to make our very own kokedama! Kokedama is a japanese technique that creates a hanging moss bonsai-ish ball. The possibilities are endless – ferns, herbs, succulents to name a few can be hanging around your home in like a half hour! Dudes! She is an inspiring woman with major lust for life! Check out her blog, Tigers to Lilies.

Shelter Half features a mix of brands, artists and craftsmen from jams to furntiture to limited edition books.

Here are some directions so you can make your very own funny poet, kokedama!